Chapter Fourteen
Holidays at the Burrow
Harry,
I know you may find this an odd request, as I didn't want you to go there this summer, but I think it would be good for you to spend the Christmas holiday with the Weasleys. Hogwarts will be deserted and you need some close protection. Have a good time and I expect an owl telling me all about it.
Sirius
"Blimey! Do you think your parents will be okay with this?" Harry asked Ron, showing him the letter.
"Are you kidding? Mum's been trying to find a reason to invite you for a while now."
"I was afraid he would tell me I had to spend Christmas with Mrs. Figg!"
The Christmas break was only a few days away, but there was still so much to do before the end of term. The O.W.L.s were fast approaching and several of the teachers were making sure the fifth years would be ready for them by the amount of homework they had to do. Professor Snape had them practicing Memory Potions and kept threatening to use them on each other. Professor Binns had them writing essays on the history of the Salem Witch Trials and the Anti-magic movement in America, while Professor Flitwick had them working on Deletrius Charms (wouldn't it be a Banishing charm?) round the clock. Harry had been practicing the spell one evening and had made his entire history essay disappear. Daphne helped him look for it for two hours before they finally found it outside the Prefect's bathroom.
He was going to miss Daphne over the break. Despite the fact that she was the only one in the class who could brew a proper Memory potion, Daphne had become a very good friend. Harry had never breached the subject of that awkward little moment after the Hogsmeade visit, and luckily, neither had Daphne. Harry was going to miss Hermione as well, but was looking forward to spending time with just Ron for a while.
Once all the papers had been handed in and the end-of-term examinations had been taken, the students began leaving for their homes. Hermione and Ron had shared a moment before she waved goodbye to them at the station. "Sheesh…you'd think she was never going to see me again!" Ron had said, blushing.
"Hello boys!" Mrs. Weasley came running at them with her arms out stretched. She grabbed Ron and gave him a hug that seemed to embarrass him. Fred and George were able to hold their mother back a bit and got off with only a peck on the cheek. Harry wet his lips, wondering if he would act this way towards his mother if she had come to great him for the holiday. Mrs. Weasley turned on Harry and gave him the biggest and tightest hug of the lot. Harry was relieved when she let go of him and decided that yes, he would probably act just like Ron, Fred, and George.
"Where's your sister?' Mrs. Weasley looked around.
"I think she's saying good bye to someone," Fred said, heaving his trunk up and dragging it towards the barrier.
Harry looked over his shoulder for Ginny. His one concern about spending time at the Burrow was Ginny. He had to take his mind off of it though for the time being. Ginny came down the platform with Dean carrying her trunk. Harry picked up his own trunk and followed the twins and Ron to the car.
Mr. Weasley had obviously been able to borrow a ministry car for their journey, as all the trunks were snug in the boot of the car. When each of the Weasleys had clambered into the vehicle, Mr. Weasley started the car and drove off to the Burrow. Mrs. Weasley began conversation by asking her daughter about Dean, causing Harry to roll his eyes. Mr. Weasley changed the subject to Ron's new position as Chaser, and the car was filled with Quidditch talk all the way home.
They arrived rather late and just had time to gobble up a wonderful welcome home dinner before heading off to bed. Harry, now dressed for bed and rather blind without his glasses, crashed onto the cot in Ron's very orange bedroom and looked around at the blurred posters of the Chudley Cannons. Ron snuffed out the candlelight and they both lay still for a while.
"Did I ever tell you that I love your house?" Harry said in the dark.
"Why? It's falling over, and we've got no room."
Harry sat up and leaned on his elbow, looking at Ron. "Every time I come here, I feel like I'm home. You know…like a real home."
"You're nutters!" Ron laughed at him.
"I might be nutters, but I like it here."
"I might as well warn you then," Ron was now up on his elbow, too. "Christmas can be a bit…well…dangerous around here."
Not being able to make out Ron's face properly on account of the darkness and the blurred vision, Harry couldn't tell if Ron was serious. "How so?"
"You never know what Fred and George are going to do to the tree!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Christmas morning came quickly, too quickly for Harry. He had wanted the break to last forever. He was having the time of his life rummaging around in Mr. Weasley's muggle collection, explaining things to him, and playing Quidditch with Ron, Ginny, and the twins. It had even snowed enough for them all to get into a snow ball fight yesterday. But today was Christmas.
Harry woke to the delicious smell of Mrs. Weasley's cooking wafting up to Ron's bedroom. He sat up and tapped his friend on the shoulder. "Oi! Ron, it's time to get up."
Ron mumbled something unrecognizable and Harry stood up and started getting dresses. "Ron! It's Christmas!" This time Harry gave his friend a good shove.
"What d'you do that for?" Ron asked sleepily.
"I've never been to a proper Christmas and your little lie in isn't going to spoil it for me!" Harry tossed a shirt at him and laughed.
Harry was the first downstairs. His eyes buldged in his head at the sight of the table full of goodies and the highly decorated tree with presents spilling out from under it. Sure, he had seen spectacular feasts and trees at Hogwarts, but there was just something about this being his first Christmas with a real family that made it all more spectacular.
Harry eyed a rather fat pastry and moved to grab it when Mrs. Weasley tapped the back of his hand and said, "Oh no you don't! You may be our special guest, but you've got to wait for everyone on Christmas!" And wait he did…for what seemed like an eternity! Ginny took her own sweet time getting ready and was the last to join the family at the table. Once she did, however, there was no holding back - Harry ate like Dudley, stuffing himself until there simply wasn't anymore room in his belly.
The time came for opening the presents. Harry had bought Mr. and Mrs. Weasley their own camping tent. He had done so because he remembered Mr. Weasley had to borrow one when they went to the Quidditch World Cup. Ginny received a lovely pair of earrings from her parents and some joke items from Fred and George that she didn't seem too fond of. Harry opened his gift to find the traditional jumper and sweets, along with a rather fine set of his own Quidditch balls.
But it was Ron who got the best present. It was the biggest and last one to be opened. Ron was surprised and opened it timidly at first, but once he realized what it was, he tore away the paper and shouted, "Oh my word! Look!" It was a new racing broom...well not new, but it was a Nimbus 1000, which was a great deal better and faster than the old Cleansweep he had been using. Ron held it out with pride. "That's for making the team." His father said with a glowing smile. "Thought it might come in handy."
Harry and Ron spent the day polishing the new broom and testing its moves in the back yard. Harry was delighted that his friend finally had something of his own that was special. Harry would have gladly purchased a new broom for Ron a long time ago, but it was better that it came from his parents instead.
As evening settled in, they all gathered around the fire in the living room and told Harry stories of past Christmases and the disasters Fred and George had caused. Each story seemed to be funnier than the last. Harry even got a stitch in his side at the one where George tried to come down the chimney as Father Christmas and frighten Ginny, but got stuck instead and had to be pulled out of the top with all the neighbors watching.
Mrs. Weasley announced that she would go fetch some eggnog for them to enjoy and asked Harry to help her in the kitchen. Harry did as he was asked and followed her into the next room. She turned around and bent down to whisper, "This came for you this morning." She held out a letter. "I think someone wants to personally wish you a Merry Christmas."
Harry opened the letter quietly and read:
Harry,
Merry Christmas! I hope you're enjoying yourself. I've written to the Weasleys and have arranged to meet you tonight at 1:00. Promise me you'll be alone. I wanted to give you your gift in person.
Sirius
Harry looked up at Mrs. Weasley with puzzlement. "We know that he's safe." She said. "I'm still a trifle nervous, but I know how much it would mean to you if you could see him." She smiled. "Now, help me with the cake." Harry carried a try full of plates and a bundt cake into the next room where everyone was still laughing.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Harry didn't sleep. He was far too excited about seeing his godfather. Glancing at his watch, he saw that it was nearly 1:00 and decided he'd better head downstairs. He tiptoed out the room and down the stairs to the living room. He wasn't sure how Sirius was going to arrive, but he knew that they had to be quiet. Then he heard a light scratching at the door and opened it to find the black dog that was Sirius' Animagus form.
Once he was in the house, Sirius transformed and hugged Harry tightly. "Oh, Sirius! This has been the best Christmas ever!" Harry said.
"I was hoping you'd say that!" They sat on the sofa and Sirius held out a wrapped package. "It's not a Firebolt, but I thought you would like it just the same."
Harry took it from him and opened it. It was a picture of his parents. Harry gazed at it, unable to take his eyes from it. He had been given an album full of photos of his parents years ago, but none of them compared to this one. There, in his mother's arms, was a baby. This picture was special because it had Harry in it. He looked at the smiling faces of James and Lily Potter, and couldn't help but wish that he could remember what it was to have them around. He fought back a small tear as Sirius said, "I looked all over for that one, I did." He looked at Harry. "I didn't know if you had one like it."
Harry shook his head. "No, I've never…seen them…with me." He thought of his experience with the Mirror of Erised, and how he had appeared to be with them then, but this was different. This was proof that they actually had been with him at some point in his life. Harry just couldn't remember it.
Harry looked up at his godfather. "Mrs. Weasley left a plate out for you in the kitchen." Sirius patted him on the shoulder and walked over to where the food was. Harry joined him at the table and they spent the time laughing over the stories about Fred and George. Sirius even shared one about the Marauders' first stay at Hogwarts over Christmas, and how they had managed to trick Snape into running half naked out in the snow, thinking that the was on fire.
After about an hour, Sirius announced that it was time for him to leave. Harry thanked him again for the picture and for the chance to spend the holiday with a real family. After another hug, Sirius transformed and left the Burrow.
"Consorting with criminals on holiday?"
Harry spun around to see a ruffled looking Ginny at the foot of the stairs. "Ginny, what are you doing awake?"
"I was going to ask you the same question. Was that Sirius Black?"
After a deep intake of breath Harry replied, "Yeah… please don't say anything to anyone."
She stepped forward. "Harry, he's dangerous."
"No he's not." He quickly explained the truth about Sirius and Peter Pettigrew, adding that even her parents knew the truth. He also told he that it was her parents that arranged for Sirius to be here tonight. The relief on her face told him that she believed him.
"Does anyone else know?"
"A lot of people know, but unfortunately, no one that can reverse his sentencing believes he's innocent."
"Ron? Does he know?" Harry nodded. "And Hermione?" He nodded again. "Why wasn't I told?"
"Ginny, some things…it was just better that you…not know."
"Why not?" Her voice was firm, and not at all like a little girls'. "Why is it that everyone thinks I have to be treated delicately?"
"That's not it…" he tried to say, but she went on.
"Good heavens, I'm the only girl in a family of six boys. Don't you think I've been beaten up a few times!"
"Ginny…"
"And I'm not a baby! I'm fourteen…and look at what you went through at the age of fourteen!" There was silence as her words sunk in. Harry did go through a great ordeal at fourteen. Ginny looked sorry that she had brought it up.
"Ginny, we didn't tell you because we didn't want too many people to know about Sirius' whereabouts. I don't want him to get caught. He's my godfather, and the only reason Ron and Hermione know is because they were there when it all came out. If it makes you feel better, I didn't tell Ron about Sirius coming here tonight. So that's one thing that you know that he doesn't."
Ginny sighed, "Really?"
"Really." For some reason that he didn't quite understand, Harry said, "And Ginny, I don't think you're a baby." His face flushed as she looked into his eyes.
"Thanks, Harry." She smiled softly and noticed the frame he was holding in his hand. "What's that?"
Harry looked at the picture, "Just a gift from Sirius." He handed it to her.
She gasped and her eyes went from the picture to Harry's face and back to the picture. "Oh, Harry! Is this…."
"A Potter family portrait." He smiled at her.
"It's beautiful." She ran her fingers over it and handed it back to him.
After a brief pause he said, "Come on, we better get some sleep. Ron will want to play Quidditch tomorrow." He put his hand on her back and gently pushed her up the stairs. When they reached the top, she gave him a hug and went to her room.
Lying in his own bed, Harry went over the day in his mind, and what a wonderful day it had been!
****Again, Lin-z, you're great!!
****Daphne Affigo is an Alphie creation. Harry Potter and all other characters are property of J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers.
